At dawn on the third day when the Liz city lord arrived at Tuck Fortress, the sentry on the watchtower blew a low horn. As Frankie expected, Poviss's reinforcements lined up and camped on the edge of the plain on the west. However, this army lay dormant like a hibernating beast - neither launching the expected offensive nor showing any signs of further advancement.
Time passed slowly like a frozen river. Crystal ice ridges hung from the eaves of the fortress, and the aroma of gingerbread from the kitchen intertwined with the smell of fodder from the stables in the courtyard. As the winter solstice approached, the maids began to hang holly wreaths on the corridor, and the knocking sounds in the blacksmith shop were occasionally mixed with the off-key voices of the young attendants practicing carols.
"This is unusual." Liz stood in front of the sand table in the strategy room, pressing his fingertips on the black flag representing the enemy. The first snow falling outside the window condensed into frost on the glass, making his chiseled profile appear bright and dark. "Poviss people have always advocated surprise tactics, but now they are willing to camp in the wind and snow."
The lords were sitting around the long oak table, and the candlelight cast dancing light and shadow on their armor. Katz was peeling an apple with a dagger, and the peel hung spirally on the edge of the strategic map. "Perhaps their commander has changed? I heard that old Earl Malcolm contracted lung disease last month."
"Perhaps this is a trap." Graybeard Lord Dirk tapped the silver-inlaid wine glass on the table, and the wine left scarlet traces on the wall of the glass. "They deliberately waited for us to relax our vigilance so that they could launch a surprise attack on the winter solstice night."
The maid quietly filled up the mead, and the sweet aroma was mixed with the smell of leather and steel. Liz suddenly reached out and brushed the sand table, and the model rustled down. "Would you rather have a decisive battle before the Winter Solstice, or wait until after the Winter Festival before sending out troops?"
The conference hall suddenly erupted in debates. Lord Royce, who advocated an immediate attack, stood up, causing the miniature castle in the sand table to collapse; while the old Baron Kaiso slowly wiped his glasses. "I think before starting this war, we should let our soldiers celebrate the Winter Solstice at least once. After all, this may be the last Winter Solstice for some of them."
Liz raised his hand to suppress the noise and turned to Herbert, who was always silent. "What do you think?"
The firewood in the fireplace suddenly exploded with sparks, and Herbert's shadow suddenly enlarged on the stone wall. "The enemy is not moving, so we don't have to move." He picked up the fallen flag in the sand tray and gently put it back in place, "Let the soldiers have a good time - after all, a wolf that is full of honey and ham is more ferocious than a hungry lion."
The laughter of children building snowmen could be heard outside the window, forming a subtle contrast with the solemn atmosphere of the strategy room. Liz stared at the intertwined formations of the enemy and ourselves on the sand table, and suddenly chuckled, "That's it. Pass the order, the Winter Solstice Festival will be celebrated as usual -" he pointed his fingertips at the location of the enemy camp, "But all sentry posts will be tripled. I want every Poviss spy to see us reveling."
When the lords left one after another, the last ray of sunset was passing over the ice on the city wall. Liz stayed alone in front of the sand table, constantly thinking about something.
Time is like the ice under the eaves of Tuck Fortress, slowly condensing in silence. Tomorrow is the most important Winter Solstice. There are three times more sentries on the city wall than in the past. The sound of iron boots stepping on the snow is particularly clear in the night. The white air breathed out by the guards in the light is frosted on their beards, and the archers in the dark are wrapped in snow wolf skin cloaks, blending into the shadows.
Liz will meet with scouts in the war room at dawn every day. Countless red dots representing reconnaissance routes have been marked on the parchment map. But the rewards are the same every time:
"Sir, the Poviss military camp is still silent."
"The amount of smoke is normal, but no soldiers are seen practicing."
"The watchtower is manned, but no one is walking around the tent."
Although Liz doesn't know what the opponent's plan is, he can only strengthen his defense and take advantage of it.
Yavi, however, had a very leisurely time during this period. He trained with the soldiers every morning and took time to spend time with his mother in the afternoon. Such peaceful days made him feel good. He even wished that the confrontation between the two armies lasted longer. He still liked such a lively atmosphere.
On the Winter Solstice Festival, even though the number of Tuck Fortress guards increased dramatically, they still could not hide the joy of the festival. Craftsmen wove huge garlands of holly and pine branches and hung them at the city gates. The aroma of cinnamon and roast goose wafted from the kitchen and filled the entire city. An inner city. According to Northern Kingdoms tradition, the Winter Solstice is a day for family reunion, and since the Herbert family is stationed in the fortress, they celebrate it together with the Liz city lord and other lords.
At noon, when the sun shines through the stained glass and casts dazzling light and shadow in the high hall, guests arrive at the elaborately decorated banquet hall one after another. The twenty-foot-long oak dining table is covered with a crimson tablecloth embroidered with gold thread, and silver candles. The table was filled with dazzling delicacies: a whole honey-glazed roast ham with an amber-colored oily surface, truffle-braised venison steaming in a porcelain pot, and mountains of cranberry pie and pumpkin pudding drizzled with caramel.
"I heard that Poviss people will release snow wolves on the night of the winter solstice." Yavi was helping his mother adjust the seat cushion when he heard Lord Royce talking loudly by the fireplace. The red-bearded man held up the wine glass, and the wine almost spilled in his excited gestures, "My grandfather said that their wizards can use ice crystals to divine fortune--"
"Spare your ghost stories." Baron Kaiso tapped the dessert plate with his silver spoon, "Don't you see the ladies are frowning?"
Yavi turned to look at her mother and found that she was smiling and hanging a bunch of mistletoe on Herbert's father's scabbard - this was Northern Kingdoms's ancient custom of praying for peace. Her dark blue skirt brushed against the snowflake pattern woven on the carpet, and the silver ornaments in her hair made a soft sound like wind chimes with her movement.
"It seems that someone enjoys the feeling of being a good son." The sudden voice made Yavi turn around and saw the city master Liz leaning against the carved pillar. This ruler rarely took off his armor today. The gold embroidery on his dark red velvet jacket flowed in the firelight, but it was not as good as the playful light in his eyes.
Yavi was about to salute, but Liz put a cup of steaming mulled wine into his hand. "Relax, even the sentry can get a cup of mead today." The city lord's eyes swept across the hall, and paused slightly at a certain place - Herbert was talking in a low voice with several border lords.
"Speaking of which," Liz suddenly lowered his voice, "Why do you think the enemy chose to remain silent today?" He tapped the wall of the cup with his fingertips, and ripples appeared on the surface of the amber wine. "Is it the calm before the snowstorm, or..."
Before he finished speaking, the old butler rang the silver bell. The clear ringing echoed in the hall, and the maids filed in holding silver plates in the shape of snowflakes. The plates contained a swan carved from ice, with fresh rosemary wrapped around the neck of the goose.
"Dear guests," Lord Katz stood in front of the main seat and opened his arms, "May God of the Winter Solstice protect us--"
Katz As soon as Lord's words fell, the hall suddenly erupted in enthusiastic cheers. The Lords raised their wine glasses, and the crisp sounds of collisions of wine glasses could be heard one after another. The aroma of mead filled the air. The maids shuttled between them carrying silver pots filled with spiced mulled wine, and the flames in the fireplace danced happily, making everyone's smiling faces turn red.
Just when the joy reached its peak, the gray-haired old butler walked hurriedly through the crowd. His black dress looked particularly abrupt among the colorful holiday decorations. He whispered in Katz's ear, his gray eyebrows almost knitting together.
The smile on Katz's face gradually solidified. When he put down the wine glass, the gold ring made a soft sound on the wall of the glass. "Everyone, please be patient." He raised his hand to signal, and then quickly walked towards Liz in the audience.
The banquet hall gradually became quiet, and even the waiters stopped. Everyone's eyes were focused here, and only the crackling sound of wood burning in the fireplace was heard.